Emma Tapping: Isle Of Man Mom Buys 100 Christmas Presents For Each Of Her Kids — Is It Excessive?

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing, as they say, and mom Emma Tapping, from the Isle of Man, seems to have taken that advice to heart when it comes to her kids’ Christmas presents. She’s reportedly piled almost 300 Christmas presents — about 100 for each of her kids — in front of the family Christmas tree. And she says she’ll do it again next year.

As Sky News Australiareports, Ms. Tapping drew quite a bit of attention — and outrage — last year when she posted photos of her Christmas tree, all but obscured by nearly 300 presents. This year, she’s at it again. A few weeks ago, she posted a photo of this year’s tree on Facebook, and once again, it’s hidden behind a mountain of presents.

What? How? Why? Seriously?

Ms. Tapping says her reason for almost literally burying her kids in Christmas presents is simple: she likes doing it, and she enjoys seeing the joy on the faces of her kids — Mia, 15, Ella, 11, and baby Tatum, 2 — on Christmas morning (or Boxing Day, or whatever they do over there).

“What I love about Christmas is the magic of it, and it’s family time for me, it’s about being with my loved ones and I love seeing their faces when I give them gifts. I do go overboard at Christmas, definitely. It’s loads of pressies, loads of food, stuffing your face and just relaxing, having a good old day.”

How Much Do 300 Christmas Presents Cost?

Emma says she’s spent around £1,500 — about $1,900 — more or less. By comparison, the average American family spends about $830 on Christmas, according to World Atlas. That’s all of Christmas as a whole — presents (not just for kids but for parents, extended family, work gift exchanges, and all that), food, and decorations.

How Can She Afford That?

She runs a “holiday cottage,” according to the Telegraph, is likely British for “bed and breakfast.” Being a business owner does not necessarily mean that one is well-off, of course, but in Emma’s case, it seems to be enough to cover the cost of the mountain of presents.

Where’s This “Isle Of Man” Place?

The Isle of Man is a 221-square-mile island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland, with a population of about 85,000 people. It’s kind of independent and kind of not. The explanation would require several paragraphs, and the Isle’s complicated legal relationship with the United Kingdom is not what this article is about, so let’s move on.

The Isle of Man. [Image by RICHARD FARAGHER/Shutterstock]

Aren’t Those Kids Spoiled?

In a word: yes. At least, at Christmas they are. Emma admits as much, although she insists that when it’s not Christmas, they live pretty normal lives.

“If you ask me do I spoil my kids, I would say at Christmas yeah I do, but I don’t spoil them throughout the year. They get their necessities, their school uniforms, the things that they need, but we don’t go on holidays abroad, they don’t go on big shopping sprees — anything they want they get it for Christmas.”

Are Emma Tapping's kids spoiled? Only at Christmas, she says. [Image by Valery Sidelnykov/Shutterstock]

She’s Getting Backlash For This, Right? This Is The Internet – Everybody Has Something To Say About Your Personal Business These Days

Yes, Ms. Tapping has gotten backlash for her Christmas spending. However, she’s not going to let spoil-sports who don’t even know her steal her joy.

“Now I couldn’t give a toss what anyone thinks. It’s not going to change the way I do things, and if they don’t like it, it’s a good job I’m not their mum.”

Do you think giving 100 Christmas presents to each of your kids is excessive? Share your thoughts in the comments below.